Latest news with #AnnickPress
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sask. author's anti-racism book is among 596 banned by U.S. Department of Defense for use in its schools
A Saskatoon author is still reeling after finding out his first non-fiction book has been banned by the U.S. Department of Defense for use in its schools. Khodi Dill's Stay Up racism, resistance, and reclaiming Black freedom is a book aimed at young adults to act as a primer on anti-racism theory. It first hit the shelves in the fall of 2023, and uses Dill's experience growing up a Black kid on the Prairies to shed light on how white supremacy functions in North America and to help readers understand how racism impacts their lives. "A couple of days ago, one of my editors, Kari at Annick Press, reached out to me and told me that he hated to be the bearer of bad news," Dill said. He was informed students at 161 schools run by the U.S. Department of Defense, would not have access to his book. Dill's book is one of 596 that are banned on the department's list, which was made public earlier this month by a federal judge hearing the case of E.K. v. the Department of Defense. Twelve students currently attending Department of Defense operated schools, are suing the department for "scrubbing references to race and gender from its libraries and lessons," according to an April court document. The students are in grades ranging from pre-kindergarten to high school, within the United States and around the world, according to the document. "If you were to look at the list of banned books, which is now publicly available, you'll see that a lot of the book titles revolve around things like racism, gender, things like, you know, trying to achieve equity within our society for different groups," Dill said. "I have a feeling that those are the sorts of ideas that are a little bit more threatening to this administration that's in the U.S. right now." Dill said a number of Saskatoon teachers have used his book as a tool in the classroom. However, he has noticed further east, there tends to be a stricter "vetting process" when it comes to the books used for teaching — especially where the N-word is concerned — like in his book. "Because it examines my experiences as a Black person and examines anti-Black racism in general, it does feature the use of the N-word, " Dill said, adding that when it is used, it's in a critical way or it's documenting its use against Black people. Many schools have now implemented policies that have completely banned the use of the N-word for study, he said. "How do you authentically represent that time period and those atrocities without addressing the language that was used?" These types of policies contribute to the erasure of Black experiences, he said. "Yeah, some censorship that might be well-intentioned, but that has some pretty dire consequences in terms of reckoning with the truth and the reality of what has happened and what continues to happen to Black people here in North America." 'Those are red flags': Rutgers professor of sociology Arlene Stein, a professor of sociology from Rutgers University in New Jersey, said she has had a number of her books flagged for a potential ban by the local government. Stein has written many research books on subjects relating to gender and sexuality — including one on a campaign in the U.S. against LGBTQ+ rights organized by a Christian organization. "And in the course of that publication history … local government tried to ban my book," Stein said. Years later, she was in the process of publishing her book Unbound, which told the story of a transgender man. "The book was challenged by local library and school board in Galveston, Texas," she said. Many of the people who make the decisions about these books are doing so in a "very ill-informed way. "Often they don't even read the books," she said. "They look at titles, if race is in the title, if gender is in the title, if sexuality is in the title … those are red flags." Stein again pointed to her book Unbound — which she said was not read before it was challenged. "They didn't read it and they ended up deciding not to ban it because they didn't want to take the time to read it," she said. Stein said having access to knowledge is important and that includes the critical knowledge about race — including books like Dill's Stand Up. 'A chilling effect': PEN America Kasey Meehan, the program director for Freedom to Read at PEN America, said the organization has been tracking instances of book bans since 2021. She said books that have been overwhelmingly targeted include those about race, racism, or include characters of colour, LGBTQ+ characters or talk about sexuality and gender or sexual experience. This stems from "pressure put on school boards or state legislatures that are driving these initiatives down to the schools." And more recently the federal government is getting involved, Meehan said. "So it's exactly right that this list of nearly 600 books that have been removed from the Department of Defence schools comes in response to two executive orders that were passed by the Trump administration that restrict discussions of diversity, equity and inclusion." The impacts have started to trickle down into the literature community, Meehan said. "It certainly casts a chilling effect across the book industry and across writers and authors." Public libraries and schools have become more nervous about buying books that may end up on these lists. It also impacts the authors on these lists, she said. They begin to work under a soft censorship, thinking of how to adapt their work to fit into this atmosphere. "We should be talking about our history, we should be celebrating all sorts of different identities in our pluralistic society," Meehan said.
CBC
30-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Sask. author's anti-racism book is among 596 banned by U.S. Department of Defense for use in its schools
Social Sharing A Saskatoon author is still reeling after finding out his first non-fiction book has been banned by the U.S. Department of Defense for use in its schools. Khodi Dill's Stay Up racism, resistance, and reclaiming Black freedom is a book aimed at young adults to act as a primer on anti-racism theory. It first hit the shelves in the fall of 2023, and uses Dill's experience growing up a Black kid on the Prairies to shed light on how white supremacy functions in North America and to help readers understand how racism impacts their lives. "A couple of days ago, one of my editors, Kari at Annick Press, reached out to me and told me that he hated to be the bearer of bad news," Dill said. He was informed students at 161 schools run by the U.S. Department of Defense, would not have access to his book. Dill's book is one of 596 that are banned on the department's list, which was made public earlier this month by a federal judge hearing the case of E.K. v. the Department of Defense. Twelve students currently attending Department of Defense operated schools, are suing the department for "scrubbing references to race and gender from its libraries and lessons," according to an April court document. The students are in grades ranging from pre-kindergarten to high school, within the United States and around the world, according to the document. "If you were to look at the list of banned books, which is now publicly available, you'll see that a lot of the book titles revolve around things like racism, gender, things like, you know, trying to achieve equity within our society for different groups," Dill said. "I have a feeling that those are the sorts of ideas that are a little bit more threatening to this administration that's in the U.S. right now." Dill said a number of Saskatoon teachers have used his book as a tool in the classroom. However, he has noticed further east, there tends to be a stricter "vetting process" when it comes to the books used for teaching — especially where the N-word is concerned — like in his book. "Because it examines my experiences as a Black person and examines anti-Black racism in general, it does feature the use of the N-word, " Dill said, adding that when it is used, it's in a critical way or it's documenting its use against Black people. Many schools have now implemented policies that have completely banned the use of the N-word for study, he said. "How do you authentically represent that time period and those atrocities without addressing the language that was used?" These types of policies contribute to the erasure of Black experiences, he said. "Yeah, some censorship that might be well-intentioned, but that has some pretty dire consequences in terms of reckoning with the truth and the reality of what has happened and what continues to happen to Black people here in North America." 'Those are red flags': Rutgers professor of sociology Arlene Stein, a professor of sociology from Rutgers University in New Jersey, said she has had a number of her books flagged for a potential ban by the local government. Stein has written many research books on subjects relating to gender and sexuality — including one on a campaign in the U.S. against LGBTQ+ rights organized by a Christian organization. "And in the course of that publication history … local government tried to ban my book," Stein said. Years later, she was in the process of publishing her book Unbound, which told the story of a transgender man. "The book was challenged by local library and school board in Galveston, Texas," she said. Many of the people who make the decisions about these books are doing so in a "very ill-informed way. "Often they don't even read the books," she said. "They look at titles, if race is in the title, if gender is in the title, if sexuality is in the title … those are red flags." Stein again pointed to her book Unbound — which she said was not read before it was challenged. "They didn't read it and they ended up deciding not to ban it because they didn't want to take the time to read it," she said. Stein said having access to knowledge is important and that includes the critical knowledge about race — including books like Dill's Stand Up. 'A chilling effect': PEN America Kasey Meehan, the program director for Freedom to Read at PEN America, said the organization has been tracking instances of book bans since 2021. She said books that have been overwhelmingly targeted include those about race, racism, or include characters of colour, LGBTQ+ characters or talk about sexuality and gender or sexual experience. This stems from "pressure put on school boards or state legislatures that are driving these initiatives down to the schools." And more recently the federal government is getting involved, Meehan said. "So it's exactly right that this list of nearly 600 books that have been removed from the Department of Defence schools comes in response to two executive orders that were passed by the Trump administration that restrict discussions of diversity, equity and inclusion." The impacts have started to trickle down into the literature community, Meehan said. "It certainly casts a chilling effect across the book industry and across writers and authors." Public libraries and schools have become more nervous about buying books that may end up on these lists. It also impacts the authors on these lists, she said. They begin to work under a soft censorship, thinking of how to adapt their work to fit into this atmosphere.
Winnipeg Free Press
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kitten's crayon chomping charming
What's a crayon good for other than drawing? Eating, of course. In writer and illustrator Marcus Cutler's latest picture book, The Crayon Stub (Putnam, 40 pages, hardcover, $25), a big cat finds all the crayons in the box gone, save one red stub. It doesn't notice the family kitten has crayon colours all over its whiskers. After a few moments of angst and a burst of hunger, creativity triumphs, and a 'totally spectacular' picture joins other drawings on the fridge. Cutler's subtle drawings add to his simple narrative. Children aged 2-5, many of whom may like to nibble on crayons, will also like this book. Buy on ● ● ● Wild rice was an abundant food source for Indigenous people before industries and governments began to control waterways by building dams. The loss of this nutritious grain contributed to the ruination of many communities. In Our Ancestors' Kitchen (Annick Press, 36 pages, hardcover, $24), Métis storyteller Willie Poll shows a modern-day girl learning about traditional foods in her grandmother's kitchen. Artist Shaikara David transports her back in time through colourful imaginings of her relatives as they gather rice in their canoes, looking 'happy, strong and well fed.' While she and her grandmother cook, the little girl is drawn further into the story of her ancestors and her rich heritage. Poll encourages parents and teachers to use this book as a starting point for all children to explore and celebrate their own cultures. Appropriate for children aged 4-7. Buy on ● ● ● Four characters — a goldfish, two plants and a spider — overcome their rivalries and personal issues to thwart a major robbery in Beth Ferr's Growing Home (Simon & Shuster, 272 pages, hardcover, $24). They put their heads (or rather, their wits) together in this clever adventure novel for children ages 8-11. An omniscient narrator explains the goings-on at Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, peppering the text with sophisticated, eloquent words that are precisely decoded. The story has delightful humour, valuable life lessons and, critically, kids will learn one of the most important four-letter words. With their trademark skill, Toronto's Fan brothers capture the unique setting and ironic humour of the dialogue. And, yes, there is a typewriter. Buy on ● ● ● Every child needs a pet to overcome trauma, right? In Marie Etchell's Saving Obaachan (Red Deer, 284 pages, softcover, $15), Charlie's parents have split, he's moved to Victoria and in a new school. He becomes friends with Miyu, a girl of Japanese descent, and they discover they've each been graced by the company of Buster, a chocolate lab who mysteriously turns up where and when he's needed. When Miyu's grandmother suddenly refuses to speak or eat, Buster's magical abilities help Charlie and Miyu uncover the story of New Denver, a concentration camp for Japanese Canadians in the Second World War, shocking the children's perception of Canadian history, democracy and justice. This story about friendship and finding one's way after trauma will pull at the heartstrings of readers aged 9-12. Buy on ● ● ● Teddy Fitzroy is the contemporary version of The Hardy Boys, but this young sleuth tracks down missing animals in Stuart Gibbs' All Ears (Simon & Schuster, 320 pages, hardcover $24). In this, the ninth novel in the Fun Jungle series, Teddy is on the trail of Tansy, a missing elephant that's in great danger. But after his best friend is accused of vandalism to protect a lizard habitat, Teddy must decide where his priorities lie. Along the way, he uses deductive reasoning and instinct to unmask the bad actors and bring them to justice. Gibbs seamlessly works oodles of science and information about animals into the narrative for readers aged 9-12. Buy on Harriet Zaidman is an award-winning children's writer and reviewer. Her novel, What Friends Are For, will be released in the fall.
CBC
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Soul Machine by Jordana Globerman
Chloe and her older sister make souls by hand in an empty old house in the countryside. When their supply of breth — the raw material needed to make souls — runs dry, the evil MCorp tries to force them to franchise and make synthetic souls instead. Chloe sets out to the big city in hopes of finding a new source. And maybe a way to modernize their business that Lacey is so determined to keep in the past. On a journey to find a real breth crop, untouched by MCorp's greedy hands, Chloe uncovers long-buried family secrets — and starts to question whom to trust and what reality even is. A beautifully rendered debut, Soul Machine is at once a metaphysical science-fiction story and a nuanced exploration of big ideas: spirituality, family, consciousness, and connection, but also unscrupulous consumption, megacorporations, and how egomaniac entrepreneurs impact our lives. (From Annick Press)
